222Haiku 俳句
我と来て遊べや親のない雀
われときてあそべやおやのないすずめWare to kite asobe ya oya no nai suzume
“Come and play with me, sparrow without parents.”
The meaning
The orphan Issa speaks to the orphan bird. Loneliness recognizes loneliness — and an invitation to play is the simplest of outstretched hands.
At the origin
A haiku Issa, who lost his mother as a child, said he composed at age six.
The characters
- 我 wareme
- と towith
- 来て kitecome
- 遊べ
- や
- 親
- の
- ない
- 雀
とParticle“And, with” — or opens quoted words.
In practice
Reach out to someone who shares your lack, not only your strengths.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 034 笑う門には福来る Fortune comes to homes that laugh.
- 039 遠くの親戚より近くの他人 A close neighbor beats a distant relative.
- 055 親の心子知らず The child does not know the parent's heart.
- 090 我が身をつねって人の痛さを知れ Pinch yourself to know another's pain.
- 164 雀の子そこのけそこのけお馬が通る Little sparrows, make way, make way! The horse is passing.